The General Surgery Residency program of Largo Medical Center is a five-year AOA-accredited postdoctoral training program directed by highly skilled and experienced teaching faculty, whose mission is:

To produce high quality, technically and diagnostically competent, Board- certified physicians in General Surgery;

To develop surgeons of sound medical and surgical acumen in concert with a high degree of professionalism, ethical and moral standards as osteopathic general surgeons;

To provide a training experience with a balanced emphasis in both education and quality patient care; and

To integrate osteopathic principles and practices in the application of surgical patient care.

The primary objective of this Surgery Residency program is to guide in the transformation of the general physician into a physician surgeon with a high degree of surgical competency. The resident who completes 5 years in this program will experience a vast variety of procedures and patients. These experiences and encounters should give the resident the ability to practice their craft with compassion and skill and allow them to pass certification examination.

This program will provide all of the requirements necessary for certification in general surgery by the American Osteopathic Association through the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons.

The Program’s curriculum emphasizes progressive training including basic science and osteopathic principles and practice. The clinical portion of the program includes resident rounds with active participation in bedside patient care as well as assisting in the operating room. It is expected that residents will become proficient in the management of all phases of patient care including diagnosis, operative technique and management of the surgical patient.

The more practical portion of the program will include, but not be limited to resident rounds with active participation in inpatient care, including critical care in addition to assisting in the operating room. It is expected that the resident will participate in and become proficient in, the management of all phases of patient care including diagnosis, operative technique, and management of the surgical patient including fluid and electrolyte therapy, metabolic and nutritional support, as well as the other phased of post operative management.

In addition to hospitalized patients, the Residents will be responsible for examination of Day Surgery patients and participate in their care. This together with the participation in the General Surgery Clinic is a very important facet of the educational program.

Didactic Components of the General Surgery Residency

Surgery Conference

Monthly Journal Club

Morbidity & Mortality Conference

Board Review

Student Surgical Case Presentations

Reading Time

Research Activities

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Patients benefit from teaching hospitals as the academic environment encourages physicians to seek innovative solutions to patients' problems. Attending physicians must stay on top of the latest medical developments in order to teach medical students, residents, student nurses and allied health professionals. Studies show that patients at academic medical centers have better outcomes.